Game apparatus.



F. W. GIBSON.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 0011.25, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQ.

FRANCIS IV. GIBSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR TO ADVERTISERS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

`GrAIlVIE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented am. v, rara.

To all 'whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCIS W. GnssoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGame Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a game apparatus and particularly to such an apparatus capable of use in certain forms as a medium for advertisement education. WhileV this aspect of my invention is to receive special consideration and illustration I desire at the outset to have it understood that my invention is capable of affording complete amusement as a game without regard to any advertising or educating feature at all. The game is however particularly and` peculiarly adapted to impress upon 4players and onlookers any desired features of advertising or publicity. 4

In the preferred form which I have shown as an illustrative embodiment I have provided for play by which the desired impressions are conveyed in a series of moves which accurately associate the impression desired with the circumstances of the desired result. Specifically the game acquaints the player with merchandise of a particular make, trade mark or brand in a proceeding in which he acquires that merchandise as a desired article of value for whichhe plays. Thus I present to the players in an interesting and easily understood game, not only facsimiles of the actual articles themselves but through the power of association cause these advertisements in their eXact form and trade dress to be remembered, long after the details of the particular occasion when they were seen have been forgotten.

The construction and principle of my invention will be more fully disclosed in the specification which follows.

In the drawings which form a part of that specification I have shown as an illustrative embodiment a construction which not only clearly illustrates the principles involved but is in itself a form very desirable in practical use. f

Throughout specification and drawings like numerals of reference are correspondingly applied `and in these drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the game board in accordance with my invention, and Figs. 2

Instead I have merely shown them with a conventional marking although some attempt has been made to represent them in 4something like an approximation of their actual appearance as regards shape. It

should be understood, therefore, that these drawings are to be construed in the light of the specication so that the full scope of the invention may be clear.

Broadly the game apparatus thus illustrated consists of a partially checkered surface game board divided into three package lcontaining areas which are further sub-divided into store and other suitably indicated spaces, a plurality of counters indicated as packages bearing any desired advertising matter and adapted to be placed in the store spaces, and game pieces adapted to be moved along the checkered surface according to the relative move values of the respective squares which go to make up the checkered surface.

More specifically the game apparatus thus illustrated comprises a game board 1 which may be of any desired size, shape and material. In the form selected as an illustrated embodiment the board has been shown as of rectangular shape. Within the border line is located a rectangular checkered-surface band composed of a plurality of color differential squares 2 and defining a central package containing area which is regularly divided by transverse lines into ten subdivisions 3 representing stores in which the counters or advertising packages 4. are contained. Each sub-division or store 3 is supposed to contain one counter or trade package and is represented as having at one end a door 5 which abuts one side of the inclosing band and is marked Closed. These closed doors 5 are alternately arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other so that the closed door of one store will be directly above or below the open door of the next store. Three of the ten stores shown in the central section have extra move indications thereon representing gain of moves, and it is advantageous in maneuvering the game pieces 6 to try to locate them opposite to one of these spaces so as to gain the extra advantages afforded. These game pieces are in the shape of disks having' an upstruck lip 61 which may be grasped between the fingers.

The transverse lines of the squares 2.are

extended laterally toward the sides of theVV board and define withl an inner marginal line two lateral package containing areas. These areas are each symmetrically divided by transverse lines into ten subdivisions l0', the majority of which represent package containing stores. Three of the spaces l0 in each lateral area, however, are otherwise differentiated, as for example, by the designations Public park, Wraiting room, Moving pictures, etc. These latter spaces do not contain trade packages but are supposed to represent losses of moves and should be avoided in manipulating the game pieces.

Beneath the extended ends of the checkered surface rectangle at the corners of the board, are four color differentiated squares having centrally thereof a circular space marked Home. Extending radially from the center o-f each home space are four arrows. Each arrow points to a different square and in starting the game the disks 6 are first moved from home to any of the squares pointed to by the arrows.

At each side of the board within the space defined by the inner and outer marginal lines is a chart 8 composed of a plurality of small rectangles 9. Each rectangle is differentiated as by a color to correspond to the coloring of one of the squares 2 in the checkered surface and has its move value numerically indicated adjacent thereto. For example, when a disk is moved into one of the colored squares near home, the move value of that square is determined by reference to the chart and the disk movedv correspondingly. The spaces at each end of the board defined by the home inclosing squares provide areas in which may be printed the directions for playing the game.

The object of the game is to obtain the greatest number of counters or packages and reach home first, each package or trade mark counting one and reaching home first counting two.

In playing the game cach player proceeds as follows: Stand one of the 24'counters or packages 4 in each of the 24 spaces marked Store. Each player then places one of the game pieces 6 on the white circle markedL Home on any corner. Each player in turn then first moves his disk from home to any of the four squares pointed to` by the arrows. After this first move by all players from home to colored square, all following'moves, which must not be diagonal,

Vare governed entirely by the` color of the squares, as shown in chart on sides of game. For example, if players disk is on the red square 21, the disk must be moved three squares in either direction. No piece 6 can be Vput on a square already covered by an opponent but can be jumped over, the square jumped counting one toward the move. Each time a players Vmove ends on a square -at an open store, player is entitled to take any package in that open store. When all trade packages have been wo-nV and taken away from the stores each player tries to get back to his home first. All stores 10on both sides of the board 1 are open. If player lands on closed side of any store i 3 he can vnot remove any package from the center section, l. y V

The counters t may be of any shape or form desired and may or may not have likeness to any varticle, or carry any referenceA thereto. In otherwords when inthe form of an ordinary pleasure game7 the counters 4: may be simple unmarked conventional objects. The squares 2 are shown as differen-` tiated by colo-r but this is merely illustrative as any indication by number, sign or device of any sort may be employed.

Various other modifications in the way of counters, designations, move values, number and relative location of stores, and loss and gain indicating spaces may obviously be re-V posed relative to said central area and similarly divided, a suitably differentiated play determining area on said board spacing said containing areas, a plurality of counters adapted to be placed in said subdivisions of theJ containing areas, and game pieces movable on said play determining area according to the relative move values of the respective differentiations thereof.

2. Game apparatus ofthe class described comprising 'a game board having a defined counter containing area suitably divided into relatively smaller subdivisions, andlateral count-er containing areas symmetrically disposed relative to said central area and similarly divided, a play determining area on said Yboardv formed as a suitably differenf tiated checkered surface extending as an inclosing band about said first named containing area, a plurality of counters adapted to be placed in said subdivisions of the containing areas, and game pieces movable on said play determining area according to the relative move values of the respective differentiations thereof.

3. Game apparatus of the class described comprising a game board having a central containing area suitably divided into relatively smaller subdivisions, andlateral containing areas symmetrically disposed relative to said central area and similarly divided, a play determining area on said board formed as a checkered surface extending as an inclosing band about said central area and composed of a continuous chain of color differentiated spaces, a plurality of trade packages adapted to be placed in said subdivisions of the containing areas, and .game pieces movable on said play determining area according to the relative move values of the respective colors forming said play determining area.

4f. Game apparatus of the class described comprising a game board having a central containing area suitably divided into relatively smaller subdivisions, and lateral containing areas symmetrically disposed relative to said central area and similarly divided, some of said subdivisions of said areas having suitably diderentiated play indications, a play determining area on said bo-ard formed as a checkered surface extending as an inclosing band about said central area and composed of a continuous chain of color differentiated spaces, a plurality ofv trade packages adapted to be placed in' said subdivisions of the containing areas, and game pieces movable on said play determiir ing area according to the relative move values of the respective colors forming said play determining area.

5. Game apparatus of the class described co-mprising a game board having a defined article containing ar-ea divided into relatively smaller containing subdivisions, said subdivisions having each an indicated closed end, counters adapted to be located in said subdivisions, game pieces, and means for determining the relative positioning of said game pieces With respect to the subdivisions.

6. Game apparatus of the class described comprising a game board having a defined article containing area divided into relatively smaller containing subdivisions, alternate subdivisions having each an alined closed end, counters adapted to be located in said subdivisions, game pieces, and means for determining the relative positioning of said game pieces with respect to the subdivisions.

7. Game apparatus of the class 'described comprising a game board having a defined article containing arca divided into relatively smaller containing subdivisions, said subdivisions having each an indicated closed end disposed in staggered relation to the closed ends of the adjacent subdivisions, counters adapted to be located in said subdivisions, game pieces, and means for determining the relative positioning of said games pieces With respect to the sub-divisions.

S. Game apparatus of the class described comprising a game board having a suitably dilferentiated play determining area extending as an inclosing band defining an article containing area divided into containing subdivisions, alternate subdivisions having each an alined closed end, articles adapted to be located in said subdivisions, and game pieces movable on said play determining area according to the relative 'move values of the respective diiferentiations thereof.

9. Game apparatus of the class described comprising a game board having a play determining area extending as a color dierentiated checkered surface inclosing a central containing area suitably subdivided, and deiining with the lateral margins of the board lateral containing areas similarly subdivided, said subdivisions of the central area having each an indicated closed end disposed in staggered relation to the closed ends of the adjacent subdivisions, counters adapted to be placed in said subdivisions of the containing areas, and game pieces mov able on said play determining area accord ing to the relative move values of the respective dierentiations thereof.

10. Game apparatus of the class described comprising a game board having a play determining area extending as a color differentiated checkered surface inclosing a central containing area suitably subdivided, and defining With the lateral margins of the board lateral containing areas similarly subdivided, alternate subdivisions of the central area having each an alined closed end, counters adapted to be placed in said subdivisions of the containing areas, game pieces movable on said play determining area according to the relative move values of the respective dierentiations thereof, and a reference chart for determining the respective move values of said diiiierentiations.

l1. An advertising device comprising a game board having a progressively indicated course, counters adapted to be disposed along said course, said counters comprising suitably indicated merchandise.

12. An advertising device comprising a game board having a progressively indicated course, counters adapted to be disposed along said course in indicated. Aprogrerriive relation thereto, said counters comprising suitably indicated merchandise.

13. An advertising device of the class described, comprising a course having indi cated adjacent store sections, removable counters associated with said store sections, said counters comprising suitably indicated specimens of the merchandise to be advertised.

14:. An advertising device of the class described comprising a course having indicated adjacent store sections, removable counters associated With said store sections, said counters comprising suitably indicated speci- 'mens of the merchandise to be advertised 1G and said course being progressively indicated With reference to said store sections.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

i FRANCIS W. GIBSON. Witnesses: i

VICTORIA Lo-WDEN, MARION C. HoBBs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained foi' velcents `each, by addressing Iche Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. f 

